The 82nd Airborne in Normandy - series completed and retiring

[WimO]

Today I have re-posted all of the scenarios in my series "The 82nd Airborne in Normandy" and added the final three: "DeGlopper's Medal of Honor", "Le Motey", and "Amfreville - Strike Two!". The re-posting was necessitated by a renumbering of a portion of the series to place DeGlopper in the correct sequence and because I edited all the scenario text files to correct  spelling, grammar and numbering errors as well as revising a few of the Special Rules.

Unless stated otherwise in the Special Rules included with some of my scenarios, players should not pre-plot mortar or artillery fire on turn one when playing any of the scenarios.

This ends my 82nd Abn. series which has focused primarily on the fight to secure the La Fiere causeway and the town of Amfreville with a sidebar to the south to cover Lt. Col. Shanley's stand on Hill 30. There were equally important  actions going on east of the Merdert to secure St. Mere Eglise and hold it against German counter-attacks and the securing of the eastern end of the Chef-du-Point bridges and causeway. At this point I am retiring from scenario and map creation to redirect my time to completing modding an unfinished plastic model (Red Knight of Vienna), painting a few hundred 15mm samurai (I should life so long), playing some of my other favourite computer games - Silent Hunter III (modded), Samurai 2 Total War (modded), Scourge of War Waterloo (modded), Wings of Flanders Fields Between Heaven and Hell, CMFB, CMRT, CMFI ... too many and too little time left.. I may or may not get around to finishing reskinning the CMBN modular buildings and barns to look more Dutch.

My backing off from modding CMBN does not mean that I am backing off from playing what has become my favourite game. Indeed, I would be very pleased if any of you would play any of the H2H scenarios which I have created.

Happy gaming all.

[Erwin]

A link would be helpful. 

 

[WimO]

All scenarios are posted at the Few Good Men's site - Combat Mission The Scenario Depot III.

https://www.thefewgoodmen.com/tsd3/

[Vacillator]

1 hour ago, WimO said:

Silent Hunter III (modded)

I used to love this going back a few years - Grey Wolves?

As for CMBN you have done a great service Wim and at least a few of us are benefitting.   As you know I have two of your battles under way as H2H, (one of which wasn't meant to be H2H) but I wouldn't mind another against you at some point if that's what you mean.

[WimO]

54 minutes ago, Vacillator said:

I used to love this going back a few years - Grey Wolves?

As for CMBN you have done a great service Wim and at least a few of us are benefitting.   As you know I have two of your battles under way as H2H, (one of which wasn't meant to be H2H) but I wouldn't mind another against you at some point if that's what you mean.

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, playing with me is what I meant to say. You are welcome to chose the scenario and side. Since I am the author I also invite you to look at both sides of the scenario to be as well informed as I. Then we can set up a Dropbox share. Warning. I strongly suspect that my last two scenarios - Le Motey and Amfreville - Strike Two will be difficult for the American player.

Silent Hunter III - GWX v3 Gold. But in near future hope to try the mod LSH3 2022.

 

Edited June 22, 2022 by WimO

[Vacillator]

2 hours ago, WimO said:

Warning. I strongly suspect that my last two scenarios - Le Motey and Amfreville - Strike Two will be difficult for the American player.

Well if I get to choose sides that's not a problem . 

I've got to know Amfreville quite well already from 'Boots on the ground' , including odd quirks of where certain vehicles can and can't go.

[Warts 'n' all]

Such a shame that the entire series isn't available in single-player format.

[WimO]

21 minutes ago, Warts 'n' all said:

Such a shame that the entire series isn't available in single-player format.

Programming AI responses to create a challenging, varied and enjoyable game takes many! more hours of time and testing than an H2H scenario. Many more hours.

That said, anyone has always been welcome to use the Scenario Editor to modify any of my scenarios as they please including tinkering with play balance, making corrections, or converting more of the SP to H2H and those exclusively H2H to SP. 

 

[Warts 'n' all]

1 hour ago, WimO said:

Programming AI responses to create a challenging, varied and enjoyable game takes many! more hours of time and testing than an H2H scenario. Many more hours.

That said, anyone has always been welcome to use the Scenario Editor to modify any of my scenarios as they please including tinkering with play balance, making corrections, or converting more of the SP to H2H and those exclusively H2H to SP. 

 

Oh yes, I agree. And the work that you have done has been impressive. But, when you are 400 years old trying to adapt your H2H scenarios to SP is beyond my Ken. Hence my use of the phrase "such a shame".

[WimO]

Age checkup. I'm 71, heart and mind failing. You older?

4 minutes ago, Warts 'n' all said:

Oh yes, I agree. And the work that you have done has been impressive. But, when you are 400 years old trying to adapt your H2H scenarios to SP is beyond my Ken. Hence my use of the phrase "such a shame".

 

[Vacillator]

Age is just a number.  So they say .

Wim, Dave and I are just starting Timmes Digs In if you want feedback on that one?  I've read your notes carefully.  Being the gentleman he is, he selected the one with the larger version of the German forces (Edit: for clarity that's me, he's 82nd through and through).  I'd like a few more troops though and we could forget history and have a few Tigers on hand?

Edited June 23, 2022 by Vacillator

[Vergeltungswaffe]

You're only as old as you would be if you didn't know how old you are.

 

[WimO]

On 6/22/2022 at 5:02 PM, Warts 'n' all said:

Such a shame that the entire series isn't available in single-player format.

Working on that at this time by turning the series into a campaign (excluding Shanley on Hill 30). Presently in play test, play test, play test ....

[Warts 'n' all]

2 hours ago, WimO said:

Working on that at this time by turning the series into a campaign (excluding Shanley on Hill 30). Presently in play test, play test, play test ....

Oh, that is great news. Take your time testing, I'm sure it will be worth waiting for, especially considering the fact that your maps were such a great piece of work in themselves.

Altogether now. "Eusebio, but I say WimO. WimO, WimO, I don't why Eusebio, I say WimO".

And if anyone can explain the above, go ahead.

Edited March 4, 2023 by Warts 'n' all

[quakerparrot67]

2 hours ago, Warts 'n' all said:

 And if anyone can explain the above, go ahead.

nope.

 

 

cheers,

rob

[PEB14]

13 hours ago, WimO said:

Working on that at this time by turning the series into a campaign (excluding Shanley on Hill 30). Presently in play test, play test, play test ....

I know I'm asking too much, but…

Do you plan one single campaign as the US or TWO campaigns (one for the US and on for the Germans)?

By mere coincidence I was having a deep look in your 82nd scenarios yesterday; I haven't played any yet, but they sound very good (both balanced and well documented, with a great master map), and I really believe there is matter for campaigns on both sides. Which would be great, as there are no campaigns on the German side for the early June timeframe!

 

Edit: by the way you should change the title of the topic, looks like you're not retiring anymore… for our greatest pleasure!

Edited March 5, 2023 by PEB14

[WimO]

The Campaign title will be "Operation Boston - Objective La Fiere".

I am working only on American vs AI. I will not be creating a German vs AI version. All of my previous scenarios are having to be reworked because of the carry over of casualties and such from scenario to scenario.

It is easy to create a single scenario but difficult to create one that is balanced (in terms of victory points) and more difficult to create an AI program that appears reasonably intelligent and difficult for the player to screw up. Also a lot of tinkering is required to prevent the player screwing it up with a cease fire.

That said, ...

It is easy to create a campaign but extremely difficult to create one that is historical and simultaneously has the possibility of altering history. Add to that the same old AI programming and cease fire issues PLUS the casualty carry over.

All of my previous scenarios have to be reworked.

An example: I have been spent five days 8am to 11pm reworking just one scenario over and over, recording progress every 5 minutes to try to get three different variations of the same scenario to work.

As for retiring - this really will be my last effort. Jut gotta get around to painting my samurai figs. Already too late for this years March "Hot Lead" wargaming convention. Aiming for 2024 (if my ticker lasts).

[Vacillator]

4 hours ago, WimO said:

As for retiring - this really will be my last effort

Please don't Wim, but that's easy for me to say.

As for the 'old' scenarios you're re-working, having played a few of them H2H (even ones you said were not H2H ) always as the Germans (my opponent dictated this, but maybe that's a bad choice of words), I would say that the Germans have a pretty tough ask.  And history would agree.

[JM Stuff]

4 hours ago, WimO said:

The Campaign title will be "Operation Boston - Objective La Fiere".

I am working only on American vs AI. I will not be creating a German vs AI version. All of my previous scenarios are having to be reworked because of the carry over of casualties and such from scenario to scenario.

It is easy to create a single scenario but difficult to create one that is balanced (in terms of victory points) and more difficult to create an AI program that appears reasonably intelligent and difficult for the player to screw up. Also a lot of tinkering is required to prevent the player screwing it up with a cease fire.

That said, ...

It is easy to create a campaign but extremely difficult to create one that is historical and simultaneously has the possibility of altering history. Add to that the same old AI programming and cease fire issues PLUS the casualty carry over.

All of my previous scenarios have to be reworked.

An example: I have been spent five days 8am to 11pm reworking just one scenario over and over, recording progress every 5 minutes to try to get three different variations of the same scenario to work.

As for retiring - this really will be my last effort. Jut gotta get around to painting my samurai figs. Already too late for this years March "Hot Lead" wargaming convention. Aiming for 2024 (if my ticker lasts).

Wim, I like very much yours differents scen of the 82th, a campaign is very welcome, are you also doing the same for the 101th in the future ? 

[Vacillator]

1 hour ago, JM Stuff said:

are you also doing the same for the 101th in the future

@Ithikial_AU is doing the upcoming BP, not sure about campaigns?

EDIT:

-          Three Campaigns

o   We Start Here – Follow the exploits of the 101^st Airborne and 4^th Infantry on D-Day. Follow the first paratroopers to hit the ground just after midnight, through to the evening of June 6^th. Get off the beach.

o   Purple Heart Lane – Command the 101^st Airborne from the Battle of Ste Come du Mont through to the Battle of Carentan.

§  A slight experiment in campaign design, allowing the player to fight a rolling battle at their own pace over several in game days. Can you keep pace with history or will the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division arrive in time to make your task more difficult?

Current count, 110 scenario variants so that is quite a long campaign script.

§  A recreation of the Carentan Operation from Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord.

o   Fist of Iron – Take control of the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division on the 13^th of June as they launch their counterattack to retake Carentan. Can you defy history?

Edited March 5, 2023 by Vacillator

[quakerparrot67]

11 minutes ago, Vacillator said:

@Ithikial_AU is doing the upcoming BP, not sure about campaigns?

EDIT:

-          Three Campaigns

o   We Start Here – Follow the exploits of the 101^st Airborne and 4^th Infantry on D-Day. Follow the first paratroopers to hit the ground just after midnight, through to the evening of June 6^th. Get off the beach.

o   Purple Heart Lane – Command the 101^st Airborne from the Battle of Ste Come du Mont through to the Battle of Carentan.

§  A slight experiment in campaign design, allowing the player to fight a rolling battle at their own pace over several in game days. Can you keep pace with history or will the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division arrive in time to make your task more difficult?

Current count, 110 scenario variants so that is quite a long campaign script.

§  A recreation of the Carentan Operation from Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord.

o   Fist of Iron – Take control of the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division on the 13^th of June as they launch their counterattack to retake Carentan. Can you defy history?

is there any idea of when this might possibly be coming out?

 

cheers,

rob

[Vacillator]

Hi Rob

I think @Ithikial_AU is the person to answer that, but Steve did say in his 2023 thread that this is the next content thing to be released.

[JM Stuff]

11 minutes ago, Vacillator said:

@Ithikial_AU is doing the upcoming BP, not sure about campaigns?

EDIT:

-          Three Campaigns

o   We Start Here – Follow the exploits of the 101^st Airborne and 4^th Infantry on D-Day. Follow the first paratroopers to hit the ground just after midnight, through to the evening of June 6^th. Get off the beach.

o   Purple Heart Lane – Command the 101^st Airborne from the Battle of Ste Come du Mont through to the Battle of Carentan.

§  A slight experiment in campaign design, allowing the player to fight a rolling battle at their own pace over several in game days. Can you keep pace with history or will the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division arrive in time to make your task more difficult?

Current count, 110 scenario variants so that is quite a long campaign script.

§  A recreation of the Carentan Operation from Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord.

o   Fist of Iron – Take control of the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division on the 13^th of June as they launch their counterattack to retake Carentan. Can you defy history?

Oh yes, I forgot the BP for Normandy have to come...thanks to remind in details !

[WimO]

1 hour ago, JM Stuff said:

Wim, I like very much yours differents scen of the 82th, a campaign is very welcome, are you also doing the same for the 101th in the future ? 

If I am not mistaken I believe that Battlefront is working on a D-Day plus, 101st Airborne pack. I'm looking forward to that. I may have the details wrong but it's something like that.

[WimO]

2 hours ago, Vacillator said:

Please don't Wim, but that's easy for me to say.

As for the 'old' scenarios you're re-working, having played a few of them H2H (even ones you said were not H2H ) always as the Germans (my opponent dictated this, but maybe that's a bad choice of words), I would say that the Germans have a pretty tough ask.  And history would agree.

Yes, indeed the German's have a tough situation. Assaulting across the La Fiere causeway was a suicidal proposition for both sides. On the German side, the 91. Luftlande had a lot to deal with for a few days with concentrations of American paras all over their area of operations. GIven their numbers and the nature of the bocage terrain, it was an impossible task to totally eliminate the paras. It should be said though that in a number of areas it was a close call. I believe that the critical event was the holding of St. Mere Eglise coupled with the eastern end of the La Fiere causeway until the 90th Inf Div could come up from Utah.  The loss of either of those two objectives before the 9th of June would have blocked the 90th and eliminated the German movement problems.